Line wiping device



June 9, 1942. DE MONT L R I 2,285,742

LINE WIPING DEVICE File d Dec. 18, 1940 x. 1m w I 223 a? v V %i;\\ 52 2f nmumvm INVENTOR ATTORN EYS element at cost.

equal emciency.

' set forthJn. the

side elevation? Figure 2;

Y on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

' the line S- -S of Figure 2.

' rubber of high tensile strength, or rubber substi- Patented June 9,

UNITED. STATES PATENT. OFFICE wig li g-E De Mont G. Miller, Angeies, Calif.

Application December 1 8Claims.

' which cause foreign matter to adhere to the line whereby to facilitate and simplify handling and winding of the line, as well as prolong its useful life. An object of the present invention'is to pro- 1 vide a line wiping device which is structurally characterized by novel means co-acting with the wiping element of the device to maintain the element effective to clean. a much greater length of line than previously; which enables a more inexpensive wiping element to be utilized and to be replacedwhen unfit for furtheruse with .a new so as to obviate discarding of the entire device; and which will accommodate lines of different diameters for cleaning with Another object of the invention is provide a, 1940, Serial No. 510,663 A tute seal.

Extending helically in the body from one end to such as Neoprene," "Duprene or "Ko roq n t the other is a line receiving slot or passage II which defines opposed convoluted walls I! and it and a bottom wall il.

The passage It extends radially of the body from its periphery to a point substantially at or :v'hich are provided with axial extensions I8 and The holder H is composed of two substantially semi-circular sections and 28 composed of structurally strong rigid material such as steel or other metal. these sections having ears 21 and a line wiping device which, when struck by an 4 enlargement on the line, will be released automeuesuymmthe anchorage of the device was to prevent any damage thereto.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combinations, arrangements and functional relationships of elements as following specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure '1 is a plan view or theline-wipingde vice embodying the present invention; Figure 2 is a view of the line wiping viewvof the line wi ing device in 3 is a side elevationat an angle of ninety degrees from Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken Figure 5 is a-transverse sectional view taken on Referring specifically to the drawing, the invention in its present embodiment comprises, in its broad aspect, a wiping or cleaning elementE, a holder or receptacle H therefor, and an anchoringmeans A.

The element E is preferably a cylindrical body 28. at one longitudinal edge thereof through zhich passes a pin 28 to hingedly connect the secons.

At its other longitudinal edge, the section. 25 is provided medially with a pair of spaced cars 30 between which is received an eye ii on one end of a clamping bolt 32, the latter-being pivotallyconnected to the ears III by means of a pin 33 passing through the ears and through the eye If.

The clamping bolt 32 is swingable between spaced lugs 35 projecting from the section 2' and is provided with a washer l8 and a wing nut 31 for co-action with the bolt in causing the sections to grip the element It in the holder with more or.

less constricting pressure, as will later bemore I fully described.

'At one end, the sections- 15 and 26 are provided with'gii'anges 4. and li proiectin'g radially. in-

iii of flexible or resilient material, such as elastic ward and constituting abii'tifints'or stop shoulders for the element E.

At the other end, the sections 25 and 26 are provided with relatively large ears I! and 43 projecting radially outward therefrom-medially betweenthe longitudinal edges of the sections and provided with relatively large circular openings 44 releasably receiving connectors-l5 formingpart of the anchorage A.

These connectors are constructed from lengths of spring wire bent to provide springvarms l6 crossed at one end to form an eye ll connected to one end of a length of chain 41. The other ends of the arms are bent to provide flaring latching portions 48 normally maintaining the connectors attached totheears- 42 and 43.

The chains 41 are adapted to be anchored by as snap hooks It to eye bolts Si or other means t0.

foreign substances wiped from a line L are free to discharge in the operation of the device, which is as follows: To install the device, the element E is first applied to the line L which may be the sand line or other line run into the hole, the element being spread and manipulated around the line until the latter extends through the passage l4 from one end of the element to the other.

With the anchoring end of the holder H lowermost, the sections 25 and 26 are now swung apart sufliciently to be applied to the element E, with the flanges 40 and 4| supporting the holder on the element.

With-the holder anchored to the eye bolts 5| by the hooks 50, the sections are swung towards each other and the clamping bolt swung between the lugs 35, following which the nut 31 is tightened sufliciently for the sections 25 and 26 to coact in snugly confining the element E against rotation in the holder.

When a pull is exerted upwardly on the line L, the latter will drag the element E against the flanges 40 and 4| and that portion of the line between the ends of the helical passage I4 will tend to form a straight stretch, but will be prevented from so doing by the lack of a continuous rectilinear hole axially in the body ID at the bottom I! of the passage. Thus the line exerts a radial force inwardly of thebody upon the bottom .wall I! to tend to expand the body in the holder and more tightly bind the body in the holder.

Thus will the walls of the passage l4 exert a frictional grip or constricting force upon the line so as to effectively wipe from the latter any foreign substances which adhere to the line, as it is pulled from the hole.

When the bottom wall I! of the passage 14 has been worn by the line L suiilciently to create an axial hole in the body of a diameter to freely pass the line and thus render the device ineffective to wipe the line, the nut 31 is tightened until the sections 25 and 26 exert a constricting force upon the body. The extent to which the body is reduced in diameter and length by the constricting action of the holder H is sufficient for the line wiping efllciency of the element E to be restored, this adjustment of the holder being repeated each time that excessive wear is present, until the maximum constriction is obtained, which will be when the walls l4 and I5 have been brought into contact with each other.

Thus the useful life of the element E in wiping the line can be greatly prolonged by the aforestated functional relationship between the element and its holder H. When the element is no longer serviceable, a new element can be'substituted at small cost to obviate the expense of discarding the entire device.

Should any enlargement on the'line, such as a rope socket, for example, strike the bottom end of the element E as upward movement of the line is being effected, the spring arms 46 of the connectors 45 will be forced towards each other by the camming action of the latching portions 48 against the walls of the openings 44. with the result that the holder H will become detachedfrom the connectors and carried upward with the line, so as to prevent breaking of the chains 41 or any other damage to the device.

It will be noted that by leaving the bottom of the holder entirely open, the possibility of metal to metal contact between the holder and a rope socket or bail on the line is obviated. Thus, with the holder made of steel, for which there is a preference because of its comparative cheapness and structural strength there will be no danger of sparking from such metal parts on the line. This safety feature is of particular advantage in operating the line in an oil well discharging wild gas. Furthermore, by this construction the element E provides a cushioning bumper for enlargements on the line to prevent damage to the holder.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the class described comprising: a body of yieldable material having convoluted walls defining a continuous helical passage through which a line can be pulled for wiping by the walls of the passage; means by which the body can be anchored against rotation; means by which the body can be maintained in a constricted position against the tendency of a line when pulled through the passage, to expand the body; and means by which the last means can be adjusted to reduce the size of said passage to compensate for wearing away of the passage by the line, whereby to restore the line wiping action of the passage. r a 2. A device of the class described comprising: a body of yieldable material having convoluted walls defining a continuous helical passage through which a line can be pulled for wiping by the walls of the passage; a holder receiving the body and adapted to be anchored to a support; the holder including relatively adjustable portions; and means by which said portions can be relatively adjusted to variably constrict the body for further use of the latter when worn by the line."

3. A device of the class described comprising: a body ofyieldable material having convoluted walls defining a continuous helical passage through which a line can be pulled for wiping by the walls of the passage; a contractible holder for the body; and means for anchoring the holder against rotation and including a detachable connection operable to release the holder fromsaid anchoring means in response to an excessive load imposed thereon.

4. A device of the class described comprising: a body of yieldable material having a line wiping passage therethrough; a holder receiving said body and adjustable to constrict the latter to restore its line, wiping action when said passage is worn; means for anchoring the holder against rotation: and means for disconnecting the holder from the anchoring means when the body is struck by an enlargement on the line as the latter is being pulled through the passage.

5. A device of the class described comprising: a convoluted body of yieldable material defining a helical line wiping passage opening to the periphery of the body; for the body by which the latter can be constricted to reduce the width of said passage sumciently to compensate for wearing away of the wall of the passage by the line.

6. A device of the class described comprising:

and a contractible holder line through said passage; the holder being sumciently spaced from the entrance end of said passage to prevent contact of any metallic enlargements on the line with the holder, whereby to obviate danger from sparks and damage to the holder when such enlargements strike said element; and means co-actable with the anchoring means and holder by which the latter will become detached from the anchoring means when the element is struck by an enlargement on the line.

7. A device of-the class described comprising: a wiping element of yieldable material having a line wiping passage therethrough; a metallic holder in which said element is confined; automatically releasable means for anchoring the holder for, pulling of a line through said passage and freeing of the holder from the anchoring means should the wiping element be struck by an enlargement on the line; the end of said-holder nearest to the entrance end of the passage being op so as to be clear'of any enlargement on the lin striking the wiping element, whereby to obviate danger from sparks and damage to the holder. i

8. A device of the class described comprising."

MONT MILLER. 

